What about this piece?

[paulitus]

When I built this one back in the late 1970s, it was meant to emulate the Northampton County style. I do not see this term around much these days. How would the styling best be described in the modern parlance?
I see some American Fowlers that have similar stock architecture. Would this styling look good on a Fowler?

[hanshi]

All I can tell you is that your work is excellent.  The rest.....?

[rich pierce]

Grinslade’s book Flintlock Fowlers has a section on Pennsylvania fowlers. Some are of the Lehigh or Northampton styling. Lots of inspiration in that book.

I agree your workmanship on the rifle is excellent.

[alacran]

That is a beautiful rifle with what looks like excellent workmanship. What caliber is it? I am afraid that in the larger calibers as a fowler, it would be quite the cheek slapper.

[GANGGREEN]

I'd echo what the others have said, that's a lovely rifle.

[Daniel Coats]

Very nice rifle!

I don't have a lot to add to the conversation but I use a site for genealogy study called maps of the US. Here's a link for the state of Pennsylvania. https://www.mapofus.org/pennsylvania/

Northampton county is shown on the far right as "Nhn" in 1790. It was a pretty large area.


Lehigh county "Leh" was formed from Northampton in 1812 and here is what it looked like at the time of the 1820 census.


Nothing new for people who study longrifles but there must have been a great deal of overlap in styles.

[Daryl]

That makes sense, Dan.

[paulitus]

Rifle is 50 cal, barrel marked Douglas XX, swamped. Rifle weighs just over 9 pounds. If you guys like it , I will build another and offer it for sale. I would up to 54 or 58 caliber. Here in CO, they have upped the requirement to 54 for round ball elk hunting. I seem to recall that the last elk I shot with this complained about the small wound channel. All joking aside, our shots are usually within 30 yards. Sometimes within 30 feet. My hunting partner swears that a cow elk came up and kissed him this past September. Of course, he had a bull tag! How about this same form, as a smoothie 20 bore?

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

From your photos, it appears t me that the drop at the comb is around 1 1/2", and that should be enough to keep the stock from slapping you in the face in big bored guns.  What is equaly important, is the pitch of the buttplate.  Anything that forces the stock to rise can be a problem with cheek busting.

[smylee grouch]

I agree with the pitch of the butt plate being so important. I'm thinking that is one of the reasons the better British makers of those big bores had that downward pitch.

[JTR]

Nice rifle!
I think Northampton would still be a good description for it.

[Cherrybow]

Beautiful rifle